Radiation Oncology Program
The Medical Education department under the leadership of the Director works to ensure that our system of postgraduate medical education is established according to the internationally acceptable criteria and meet all the requirements of the College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan (CPSP).
Program Director Message
Residency Training Program in Radiation Oncology is one of the flourishing SHIFA International Hospitals’ postgraduate teaching programs. The section of Radiation Oncology has a mixed faculty, comprising of a flavor of youth and experience dedicated to train and groom, young aspiring residents, who are ambitious to pursue their career in this super-specialty. The integrated and structured program is well knitted to provide the residents training in various aspects of radiation oncology along with brief rotations in allied disciplines i.e. medical oncology, pathology, diagnostic & interventional radiology, pain and palliation, chemo daycare and surgical oncology.
The program gives our residents an opportunity to learn and practice modern oncological interventions including chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, targeted therapy and latest techniques in modern radiotherapy practices e.g. precision radiotherapy including IMRT, SIB- IMRT, and IGRT by virtue of department's state of the art equipment including LINACs, latest version treatment planning and management systems, HDR Ir 192 brachytherapy, 4D CT simulator, lead block cutting, quality assurance and quality checks IMRT tools. It is backed by team of dedicated medical and health physicists, dosimeters, radiation technologists and a modern diagnostic radiology department.
The department ensures a comprehensive academic environment not only in line with the requirements and guidelines of CPSP, but is also acceptable as training for FRCR (Clinical Oncology) ensuring penultimate patient care. Residents are trained not only through rotations, but also through 19 existing multidisciplinary meetings including tumor board meetings weekly and an intra-departmental meeting every month. Residents are groomed through case based discussions (CBD), mini CEX, direct observation of procedural skills (DOPS) long cases, journal clubs, mortality morbidity meetings, quality assurance meetings, biannual written MCQs and TOACS examination, BLS, ACLS, CPSP workshops, etc. Residents are encouraged to attend CME activities in-house, at National and International level. We also promote culture of acquiring knowledge to facilitate basic and advance research through close collaboration with Shifa Research Center. By virtue of JCIA accreditation the residents are accustomed to policies and procedures that inculcates safe and standardized practices transforming them to sound medical professionals who are capable of delivering quality health care anywhere in the World.
After 6 years of evolution, two of our trainees in fundamental years have successfully passed FCPS Radiation Oncology and one has also passed FRCR Clinical Oncology.
We welcome the aspiring residents in Radiation Oncology and assure transformation into a dependable, empathetic professional, capable of handling cancer patients independently towards the end of our FCPS residency training program.
Chief Resident Message
” I am a third year post graduate resident at Radiation Oncology Dept., recently entrusted with responsibilities of a CR. I completed 5 years of MBBS at Rawalpindi Medical University. After 1 year house job at Holy Family Hospital, I joined Dept. of Neurosurgery SIH as a medical officer where I worked for 1-1/2 years.
This year marks completion of my 2 years training at Radiation Oncology Dept. SIH. As a resident what remained important for me was my goal of covering the devised learning objectives for basic sciences and clinical oncology, allocated as per our program booklet. I am glad we were successful in achieving most of them and I feel confident and prepared to take my intermediate module (IMM) exam in coming months.
Looking back at my experience here, I feel driven. As a learner, I believe my residency program has helped me in honing self-directed learning. We get to shadow mentors, which has led to meaningful improvement in our foresight. We learn standardized teaching and training, safe practices as per JCIA recommendations contrary to what I saw in many government based/JCIA non accredited set-ups. We get the chance of first-hand interactions with patients which has helped us polish our clinical acumen and skill set. We are regularly assessed and given prompt feedbacks. We have allocated teaching hours per week and execution is for strict compliance. As a CR, I aim to lead a team of self-directed learners under guidance my mentors, practice team-work and positive interdependence, and sharpen our clinical foresight. It also brings my administrative and leadership abilities to the forefront. We are aiming to focus more on conducting research-based activities. This remains a challenge for us, and we plan to devise a strategy for that.
I believe the key to learning is the urge to stay a life-long student and to stay motivated. A conducive working environment is paramount for that. I can proudly say we as a team of young to-be-consultants are at the right place that brings the best Out of all of us. A sound work- life balance is also something to cherish. “
Dr. Maryam Noor Awan, 3rd year Resident
